Roughly one-third of dog owners visit the drive-through or take out window with their dog(s), and four-fifths of them order something specifically for the dog. That translates to over one billion fast food trips annually when something is being ordered for the dog.

So states a study published April 8 by Relevation Research, a market research firm.

But the U.S. is not alone in such “dog treats.” In the U.K., the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), the U.K.’s leading veterinary charity, published a report in March confirming the same behavior.

Indeed, 5.5 million U.K. pets get treats as part of their daily diets, and those treats include, you guessed it, fast food such as hamburgers and French fries.

The PDSA report also notes that 80% of the U.K. veterinary community believes there will be more overweight pets than healthy pets in five years, compared with 42% of U.K. pet owners.

Alas, in the U.S., it’s already happened.

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) published its eighth annual National Pet Obesity Prevalent Survey last month, and found that 54% of U.S. cats and dogs were overweight, some with serious consequences.

“We’re seeing an increasing number of obese pets and the diseases that accompany excess fat,” reports Julie Churchill, DVM, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor and veterinary nutritionist at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, and many forms of cancer are associated with obesity in animals. It is critical pet owners understand an overweight dog or cat is not a healthy pet.”

“[Veterinarians can] change the message from ‘fat’ and ‘obese’ to ‘disease’ and ‘inflammation.’ Start by comparing the pet's last weight with the current weight. If it's increased, that's an opportunity to intervene.

“Next, calculate daily calories and volume or weight of food. Be sure to ‘prescribe’ a daily treat allowance. I include a ‘cheat treat’ with instructions on how to adjust feeding if the owner feels compelled to give an extra reward.

“Finally, teach the owner how to weigh their pet at home and schedule a one to three month weight re-check."

This article has an interesting premise, but I have trouble believing ANYTHING that comes out of a survey that finds that Americans only make one million drive-through trips annually. Such a low rate is simply unfathomable. (It would equate to less than one in three hundred Americans going through a fast food drive-through annually.)

The study announced by Relevation Research was not published online. I talked with the managing partner who informed me that they didn't formally publish the findings, so regretfully, I cannot point you to their study.